Home improvement is a popular concept now, especially with a poor economy. Most people can only afford to make updates in their home if they do some or all of the work themselves. When the home owner has some experience in the basics, a do-it-yourself project can be a wise choice. This article will help guide you to make your home improvement project a success.

To improve the value of your home, you should think about remodeling it. A home that looks new can be sold for more. Adding new rooms or an outside patio can increase its value. Consider remodeling as a form of investment and make sure you know what most people want, before you start.

Throwing out an old sofa can be very tempting when it no longer looks new and clean. However, with the same effort it takes you to throw it out, you can buy some nice slipcovers and throw it on your sofa. Slipcovers are available in a myriad of designs and can spice up an old sofa very easily.

When it comes to home improvement, be sure to have fun with it. This is important because it should be a rewarding experience for you. You will never fully enjoy your home improvement project if it was a burden and brings back bad memories. Consider hiring help if it is expected that you will run into issues completing the project on your own.

Soak your hands in salad oil after completing an oil painting job. The oil will help release the paint from where it has splattered on your hands. Salad oil smells better and is a lot safer than the typical cleanup choices of mineral spirits or kerosene. My brother is an Anaheim painter and he says that oil is good for your health and mineral spirits can harm your liver.

One way to save money and energy is to buy a programmable thermostat if you don’t already have one. A programmable thermostat will allow you to specify what temperature you want your house to be at any given time or day throughout the week, even when you are away from home.

Only clean your furniture with furniture cleaner. Meanwhile it is tempting to just use a rag cloth and run over your furniture with water, it in fact ends up damaging your surfaces. Use specialty cleaners such as Pledge and spray liberally over your surfaces. It not only protects your finishes, but also repels dust.

The quality of a great door cannot be underestimated. Your guests will be seeing your door whenever they enter and leave your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. Security is also an issue for doors with old or inferior frames and locks.

Shut the toilet lid! No, it’s not a girl boy thing! Toddlers can topple into an open toilet and drown! Why take the chance of such a horrible thing happening when all you have to do is shut the lid. Keeping the bathroom door closed is another good practice when small children are in the house.

Always select energy-efficient windows for home improvement projects. Modern windows conserve energy in a variety of ways, from special glass coatings to tight-sealing gaskets. The most efficient of modern double-glazed windows even have noble-gas-filled glazing cavities to prevent heat transmission. High-tech windows can help the homeowner realize significant savings on heating and cooling.

If you are thinking of buying a new tub, sit in the tub before purchasing it. You may feel embarrassed, but sometimes bathtubs may look much bigger than they actually are. Some tubs are can not be returned or have a very high restocking fee, so make sure you are pleased with the tub before buying.

A great way to add value to your home is to add a sun room to the back of your house. Any time you add square footage to your home, you are increasing its value. Additionally, a sun room looks great, giving your home more appeal to a buyer.

Tell your contractor your real budget. Many people are afraid that if they tell how much they can actually spend, the contractor will make an effort to spend at least that much. Contractors are interested in giving you the best quality work, so you need to be honest with them about what they have to work with.

Unless you are an experienced electrician, don’t try and do the electrical work yourself. You may be tempted to run a bunch of extension cords, or change the number of prongs on an outlet, but you shouldn’t attempt it because it can be dangerous if you do it incorrectly. For safety, hire a professional electrician to do all of the electrical work.

If one has a large backyard at their home they should think about planting some berry bushes in their yard as a way to improve their home. The bushes can not only provide tasty berries for one to eat but they can also serve as decorations depending on how one arranges them.

By replacing the existing gutters on one’s house with copper gutters they will be doing a home improvement project that enhances the appearance of their house. It can also help the value of one’s house if they are ever going to try to sell the house. Most importantly though it will make one feel better about their house.

Remember when doing a massive home renovation that the inside is not the only area that needs attention. Sure the inside of the home is a big factor in a major home improvement plan, but neglecting the outside will lead to expensive repairs down the road. Look at the roof, siding, paint, and gutters for any signs they need replacing.

There are times when a home owner will take on a project which is beyond their ability. In this case do-it-yourself home improvement can end up costing more than a contractor would have charged in the first place. As this article helped you see it is always wise to do some research and get professional advice before taking on a home improvement project.